Falling

T W E N T Y - T W O

"Hi, honey." Mom enters the kitchen and greets sleepily. She ambles in wearing pajamas and a fluffy robe, her hair up in a slept in messy bun.

"Morning, mom." I chirp, munching on my avocado toast that I made.

My eyes follow her as she roams the kitchen getting the things she needs to start a pot of coffee. She lets out a big yawn as a knock on the front door sounds.

"Who is that?" She turns to me.

I hop up from my stool at the kitchen island to open the front door. "Probably Will. He's driving me again today."

When I swing the door open, the brown eyed boy is revealed. Dressed in his black hoodie, perfect fitted jeans and vans he looks like something off the cover of a magazine instead of a high school student. "Good morning, cowgirl." He steps forward to pull me in a hug and I return it readily.

I close the door and lead him back into the kitchen so I can finish my breakfast.

Yesterday, Will picked me up for school since I had left my car parked in the student parking lot when we went to get dinner. And then he decided that he would pick me up for school today too, for no reason in particular.

"Good morning, Amanda." Will greets my mom who is pouring herself a fresh cup of coffee.

My mom turns to face Will, coffee mug in hand. "Will, honey, it's nice to see you again. I am so sorry that you have to see me like this this morning." She attempts to pat down her bed head.

"I don't know what you mean, the robe looks great." He has a humor in his voice and a twinkle in his eye.

Mom places a hand on her hip and rolls her eyes with a ghost of a smile on her lips as she sips her coffee.

A new set of footsteps joins us in the kitchen and I turn on my stool to see that it's my dad, dressed in his work attire.

"Hey, Princess." He kisses the top of my head before turning his attention to Will who is leaning against the island.

"Will. What brings you over to see my daughter so early in the morning?" My dad says in monotone.

Mom hands over a cup of coffee to dad who accepts it silently, his eyes on Will.

"I am driving her to school, sir." Will responds respectfully. I noticed that his posture straightened after my dad entered the room.

"Will, honey, would you like some coffee?" Mom interrupts the little stare down between the two of them and holds out a coffee to Will.

He accepts it gratefully. "Thank you, Amanda."

"Why would you need to drive her to school? I bought her a car for the purpose of driving herself to school." Dad says, ignoring mom's interruption.

"Scott. Behave yourself." Mom scolds him, warily.

"Well—." He starts again.

"Dad." I interject. He locks his eyes with mine and I give him a disapproving look.

As if surrendering, he looks away and sips his coffee in silence.

"Well I think it's sweet of you to drive Katelynn to school, Will." My mom says politely.

Will sends her a grateful smile.

To lighten the mood, mom starts up a new topic of conversation. "We're leaving for the lake after you both are out of school. Are you so excited? I haven't even packed my suitcase yet. I've been so busy with getting together food items and what-not for the past couple of days that I haven't gotten around to it yet." She rambles on.